THE © A'U D-U BON JSR Usb Deeley 
cooling canal is complete. If this system is responsible for eliminating 
a significant part of the population of these lower forms, it follows 
that higher forms, and soon even the fish and their predators, would 
be greatly depleted. 
To monitor this, we began our census during the plant con- 
struction in 1969 when no warm water was being discharged. Our 
eagle census varied between four and eight Bald Eagles during the 
first four years, about what one would expect as an average along 
the Mississippi. In 1973 the count went to 88. Eagles do not come 
to an area because it has fewer fish. It is possible that a longer 
period of operation will cause a change, but the Christmas Census 
will be one monitor of the project. 
Another nuclear plant is Now being planned near Savanna in 
an area where we have been conducting a census since 1956. It may 
prove interesting to see what happens in this area. 
The letter sent to Christmas Census reporters by the IAS 
Christmas Census Editor last November suggested that “Christmas 
Censuses covering largely non-Illinois areas, and also published as 
part of a Christmas Census in Iowa or Missouri, or elsewhere . . . 
be sent to the editors in that state and not to Illinois.” 
In checking the 1972 censuses, I found exactly zero censuses 
that covered “largely non-Illinois areas” and areas in’ lowa or 
Missouri. All counts along this border of Illinois, the Mississippi 
River, were either split nearly evenly into the two states by the 
river or lay chiefly in Illinois. There was one census which covered 
about three-quarters Wisconsin territory, but the editor ignored 
this census. 
I would urge census reporters to report these evenly split cen- 
suses to both states in the future. The picture of events along the 
Mississippi 1s one of the most vital components of the Illinois 
Christmas Censuses, and our members need to know what is 
happening there. 
—Peter C. Petersen, President 
235 McClellan Blvd. 
Davenport, Iowa 52803 
THE 1974, ANNUAL MEEDING #2 
. . . Of the Hlinois Audubon Society is scheduled for the weekend 
of April 26-28. It'll be held in Mount Vernon, III. Complete details and 
registration and hotel information appear in the upcoming IAS NEWS- 
LETTER. Reserve the dates. 
